Amalgamator and concentrator.



UNITED STATES PATENT GEEK-2E.

IRWIN HERBERT SPRIGGS, OF EUREKA, UTAH, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO NEWMANH. MIX, OF EUREKA, UTAH.

AMALGA MATOR AND CONCENTRATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LetterePatent N0. 689,695, dated December24, 1901.

. Application filed February 14.1901. Serial No. 471247. (No model.)

To all whom it may. concern:

Beitknown that I,IRw1N HERBERT SPRIGGS, a citizen of the UnitedStates,and a resident of Eureka, in the county of Juab and State of Utah, haveinvented a new and Improved Amalgamator and Ooncentrator,of which thefollowing is a full,clear,and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in concentrators and amalgamators for precious metals; and the objectis to provide a machine ofthis character particularly adapted for recovering the values from looseground,clay, or gravel, and from other dirt and sand c0ntaining gold.

I will describe an amalgamator and con centrator embodying my inventionand then point out the novel features in the appended claims. v

- Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings,forming a' part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure l is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying my invention,and Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same.

The apparatus com prises a main tray 1 and a feed-tray 2, supportedthereon. The feedtray2 at its outlet end has downwardly-curved arms 3,which have pivotal connection with lugs 4:,secured to the end of thetray 1. Therefore this feed-tray 2 may be swung upward and downwardrelatively to the lower or main tray. When in its operative position,however, this feed-tray 2 extends longitudinally over the tray 1 and ata slight downward inclination toward its discharge end. The two traysare mounted on rockers 5, which are attachedto the lower tray 1 by meansof plates 6, and these rockers will'preferably be of resilient metal, sothat by their spring they will aid somewhat in the rocking of theapparatus during its operation. The upper ends of the rockers areextended upward, as at- 7, to engage against the sides of the feed-tray2, holding it firmly in position and preventing any lateral movementthereof.

It will be noted that each tray is semicylindrical and that the uppertray is provided at its center portion with a riftle 8, and below thisriffle is a semicylindrical screen 9,which is separated somewhat fromthe bottom of the tray 2, as clearly indicated in Fig.2, and it alsoextends beyond the end of said tray 2 and also beyond the end of thetray 1'. "The tray 2, however, is somewhat shorter than the tray 1, soas to leave a space for discharging into one end of said tray 1.

Extended around the upper edge of a portion 10 of the tray 2, which maybe termed the hopper or receiver, is a perforated pipe 11 fordischarging water onto the mate-. rial placed in said hopper-section.Water may be supplied to the perforated pipe 11 by any suitable means. Ihave here shown it as in connection with a hose or flexible pipe 12,which may lead from any desired source of supply.

14, and between these riffles is a swinging agitator consisting offingers 15, depending from a bar 16, mounted to swing on a rod 17, andat the outlet end of the tray 1 is a semicylindrical sieve 18, placedabove the tray, which has its end extended beyond the end of said tray.In the bottom of the section of thetray 1 containing the agitator is anopening 19, designed for the discharge of concentrates. This opening iscontrolled by a plug- Valve 20, held in its closed position by means ofa spring 21 and adapted to be opened antomatically by the rocking motionof the apparatus, as will be hereinafter described.

In operation the clay, sand, or other material containing values is tobe placed in the section or hopper 10. It may be here stated that whenthe values are contained in clay alone it will be found expedient to mixa certain proportion of gravel therewith, which during the rockingmotion of the apparatus will help to grind and separate the particles.After turning on the water-spray the apparatus is to be rocked by anysuitable means, and the mixed clay, water, and values will pass over theriffie 8, where the'heavier particlesthat is, the gold-will settle uponthe sieve 9 and pass through the same into the first section of thetray 1. The coarse matewill pass off over the end of said screen 9. Thematerial in the tray 1, which is arranged at a slight downward angletoward its discharge end, will pass into the chamber con- The tray 1 isprovided with riffles 13 and I rial or tailings or a greater portionthereof.

taining the agitator 15. If desired, quicksilver may be placed in thissection of the device in order to take up or amalgamate with the gold.In such case the wall of this section of the tray should preferably beof copper. When amalgamation is not desired, or when quicksilver is notused, the concentrates will settle at the bottom and move toward theopening 19, and every time the apparatus reaches its substantiallyvertical position the valve 20, by engaging with a suitable trip, suchas a piece of wood or the like, placed under the same will be raisedupward, allowing the concentrates to pass out through said opening andaccumulate in a pile underneath the apparatus, from where they may bereadily removed without at any time stopping the machine. The clay,sand, or the like held in suspension by the water will pass over thesieve 18, and any gold or other values that may be contained thereinwill sink to the bottom of the sieve and discharge into the end of thetray 1.

It is to be understood that the agitating device may be placed in anyother part of the apparatus or it may be wholly omitted, if desired.

By the peculiar rolling or rocking motion of the apparatus it will notonly handle successfully all earth that may be worked by any othermachine, but its success in saving values in clay is very marked, theonly material difference being that clay will not come through asrapidly as loose earth. The peculiar concentrating action of the machinecompletely grinds the particles of clay, making it a solution from whichthe values rapidly sink, and, further, rusty gold will be so polished asto permit the free action of the quicksilver upon it.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. An ore a-malgamator and concentrator, comprisingtwo semicylindrical trays one arranged above the other, rockers ofresilient metal attached to the lower tray, the said rockers havingupwardly-extended portions to engage the sides of the upper tray, andmeans for supplying water to the feed end of the upper tray,substantially as specified.

2. An ore amalgamator and concentrator, comprising two semicylindricaltrays one arranged wholly over the other and mounted to rock, a rifilein the upper tray, a semicylindrical sieve extended from said rifliebeyond the outlet end of the tray and adapted to discharge material intothe lower tray, and a perforated water-pipe extended around the hopperor feed section of said upper tray, substantially as specified.

3. An ore amalgamator and concentrator, comprising two semicylindricaltrays arranged one wholly over the other, rockers on which said traysare mounted, a pivotal connection between the two trays at one end, asieve at the outlet end of the upper tray, and a sieve arranged aboveand extended beyond the outlet end of the lower tray, substantially asspecified.

' 4. An ore amalgamator and concentrator, comprising two semicylindricaltrays a1 ranged one above the other, rockers on which said trays aresupported, means for supplying water to the upper tray, an agitator inthe lower tray operated by the rocking movement of the trays and an automatically-operated valve for an outlet in the lower tray,substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

IRWIN HERBERT SPRIGGS.

Witnesses:

ANGUS J. URQUHAR'I, P. STILLMAN.

